Import tcx/gpx courses into Garmin Connect

Unfortunately this manual/upload option is not available on the modern mode. Its only found in the classic view. I do hope that the classic view is not decommissioned or we'll loose the ability for manual upload of courses.

Success!

Try the following link to load courses. Worked nicely for me:

http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?supportPage=Edge%20810&caseId=%7B89b599d0-6189-11e2-f3fb-000000000000%7D&locale=en_US

This worked for me straight off - nice one - thanks very much for the steer.

I thought this file type description and upload summary from Ride with GPS was helpful.

http://ridewithgps.com/edge_810

WHICH FILE SHOULD I USE?
An Edge 810 is very similar to the Edge 800 in that it can use a TCX, a GPX Route or a GPX Track. Each have pros and cons so read the descriptions carefully. I strongly recommend trying each format on a simple test route to get a solid feel for pros/cons before using it for navigating a ride. With that being said, you will best be served by a GPX Track if you don't need custom cuesheets from our site, and a TCX if you are attempting to train or want to navigate a route with a custom cuesheet, or if you have an Edge 810 without basemaps.

TCX

Great for navigation if you need custom cuesheet entries or don't have basemaps! Good for soon to be released virtual partner training features.
The TCX format is great if you want to navigate a route from the site which contains custom cuesheet entries. The Edge 810 will navigate you along the route, giving true GPS style navigation with a stylized map containing an overlayed arrow. When you get within 20-30 feet of the cuesheet entry, it will also beep and display the name of the entry. So, you get navigation plus alerts when you come up on your cuesheet entries. One thing to note: the cuesheet entry alert is "dumb" in that it doesn't take into account your direction of travel. Say you get off course and loop around the block, so your left is now a right to get back on course. The cuesheet entry will still say "Left" even though you need to take a "Right". The navigation instructions on the GPS will be correct, but the entry won't. As long as you recognize that limitation, then the TCX is a great format for navigation.

One note: the TCX file is intended as a training aid. The Garmin Edge series will have a "virtual partner" that you are racing against - the partner's speed is set by the timestamps we put in the file. For now this is very basic - we don't set the timestamps to be of any help while training. So if you are just navigating a route, trying to avoid being lost rather than trying to maintain a certain speed, you should turn off virtual partner inside the GPS unit.

GPX TRACKS

The best format (aside from TCX, read about that below) for navigation
A GPX Track contains the hundreds of points used to draw a map, but it doesn't contain cuesheet information, so any custom created cuesheet entries will NOT be present when you navigate. However, the GPS unit will strictly follow the plotted route and will also provide you with true navigation style turn by turn instructions if you have CitiNav or OSM base maps installed. You get a stylized map with a superimposed direction arrow at turns, as well as textual directions. Additionally, whether you have base maps or not, the compass on your GPS unit will always point in the direction you need to go and you can see your route plotted on the Edge's map display. As long as you don't need any custom cuesheet entries, this is the best format to use.

GPX ROUTES

Sub-optimal, not useful for most people
A GPX file contains only the cuesheet points, but doesn't contain the hundreds or thousands of points required to draw the map. Since the GPX Route file only contains the cuesheet notes, the Garmin will use its internal maps to route from cuesheet entry to cuesheet entry. Often times this means it will take different streets than expected, so total overall mileage is almost guaranteed to be shorter. It usually calculates the routes to be as short as possible. As a result, a GPX Route is rarely a desirable format to use on the Edge 810, and we recommend staying away from it unless you know what you are doing. One "benefit" is that the custom cues you create on our course creator will be present, but how the Edge 810 actually routes you between them is anyones guess.

GPXX ROUTES

Not useful on the Edge 810
This format was useful on earlier GPS units to get past internal point limits, but isn't useful in my testing with the Edge 810. It always wants to shortcut back to beginning of the route, even after the first block...

OK, SO HOW DO I GET THE FILE ON MY GPS?
To put a TCX or a GPX file on your Edge 810, export the desired file from our site. Once you have the file saved on your computer (remember where you saved it, whether that's the desktop or downloads folder or wherever), you can transfer it to the Garmin. Every computer is different, but the general idea is that the Edge 810 acts like a USB thumb drive. Plugging it into your computer should allow you to view the files stored on the unit. Once you have it plugged in, open up the "drive" associated with the GPS unit, then open the "Garmin" folder inside the drive. You'll now see a list of several files/folders. One of the folders is called "NewFiles". You should copy (drag the icon) the file to this folder. Once done, safely remove the GPS unit. "Safely remove" means follow your systems instructions for removing a USB flash drive. This, on Windows systems, is usually done by clicking the remove hardware icon in the lower right corner of the screen, next to the clock.

Once the file is transferred to the Edge and the Edge is safely removed from the computer, power the device up. You should be able to find your route under the "Courses" menu. From there it should be fairly self explanatory. Please practice navigating a route with something simple, around your neighborhood, and don't try to do this the first time before a big ride with friends

I have found three ways to upload courses to the Edge 810. It would be nice if I didn't have to convert GPX file types but otherwise it works fine. On the last scenario, I can do 100% of this from my Android phone.

1. Manual Upload to Garmin Connect, then transfer to Edge with Garmin Express.
Save the file as a GPX tracks file or convert it to GPX tracks with GPSies
Go to Garmin Connect
Go to Activities, then click on Import upper right corner.
Click on Choose File then locate a tcx or gpx file (or fit file)
Click on Upload Activities from file
Click on the activity then click on settings in upper right corner
Save as Course
Go to Courses and click on the Course you want to transfer
Click on Send to Device upper right corner
Send to Device
Garmin Express will open and sync the file to the Edge 810, it may ask you to install updates, so click on update.

2. Transfer file to Garmin folder connected to the computer as a drive.
Save a gpx file on the computer,
Plug in the Edge 810 to the USB port
If the computer doesn't recognize the Edge 810 click on Garmin Express and wait for it to find the Edge 810
Open Windows Explorer and find the Transfer the file into the Garmin folder on the Edge 810 folder
Open the Garmin Folder and find the NewFiles folder.
Transfer the Gpx file into the NewFiles Folder
Click on the application tray and safely remove hardware/eject device.
It will show up on the Edge 810 as a course.

3. Upload to Edge 810 using Garmin Connect Mobile
Save the file as a GPX tracks file or convert it to GPX tracks on www.GPSies
Go to Garmin Connect
Go to Activities, then click on Import upper right corner.
Click on Choose File then locate a tcx or gpx file (or fit file)
Click on Upload Activities from file
Click on the activity then click on settings in upper right corner
Save as Course
Go to Garmin Connect App and refresh, then click on courses, then refresh, then click on course, then click on the arrow on the upper right and the Edge 810 will indicate Downloading Course/Download Complete and the Phone will indicate it is syncing with Edge 810

If you can't upload the files in Garmin Connect because of an error when uploading use the GPSies site to convert the file.

This method worked flawlessly.

Unfortunately, that link no longer works.

The correct link is www.gpsies.com.
I would prefer a direct import of gpx-routes or gpx-tracks into connect (web and mobile) and send them with connect mobile via bluetooth to my edge810. All other solutions are just workarounds and not really efficient.

I got an error "undefined" when I tried to upload a tcx file.

At last I found a way to import my .GPX track into GC without using other devices! It is still a two-step process, but quite smooth.
1) Import your .GPX as an Activity in GC. Yes, on the "Activities" page there is an Import link to the right, above your list of activities.
2) When imported you can create a course out of that activity.

I found out the hard way that I had to delete the activity before I could add another one.

At last I found a way to import my .GPX track into GC without using other devices! It is still a two-step process, but quite smooth.
1) Import your .GPX as an Activity in GC. Yes, on the "Activities" page there is an Import link to the right, above your list of activities.
2) When imported you can create a course out of that activity.

I found out the hard way that I had to delete the activity before I could add another one.

Did this work for a GPX track file exported from RideWithGPS.com without converting on GPSies.com? When I tried this, GarminConnect threw an error and would not upload the file. If I used the GPSies.com convert feature, by uploading the GPS track file from RideWithGPS.com, as described by others earlier in this thread, GarminConnect successfully uploads this file as an activity.